The caps that came with my Boyer have nice tight fitting rubber caps. I've been caught in a few hard rains with no problems.
Mine still looks just as it did when I brought it home from the junkyard nearly 20 years ago. I'm finally doing something with it.Goodness, that's a clean motor
Goodness, that's a clean motor.
The Mailman keeps a clean machine!
The notches are where the coil wires are soldered to the slip ring plate.Took the alternator cover off in order to move engine to TDC and noticed a pair of indents or notches on the edge of the rotor.
Every XS650 I've ever seen came with a Koito sealed beam. Many have been converted to H4 I'm sure. The sealed beam is very durable, but not particularly bright. Having an H4 with spare lamp is a fine idea.Service done and dusted. Noted that dipped beam has failed - couple of days ago. This must be fixed as I like to run with dipped beam on. Looked in the book to check the bulb size.
Yamaha factory manual says the bike has a sealed beam unit. Yikes - available on ebay from USA for cough, splutter.
Haynes manual says some XS have sealed beam, others have an H4 bulb. Oh well, better pull the headlamp out and see what we have. Phew, it's a bulb. Two H4 bulbs now on order, for less than a tenner. Gotta have a spare . . .
A while ago, the engine braking seemed to go absent without leave. Just the once.
If @GLJ and @gggGary are any indication....A practical classic? Maybe.
I think so. Back in the 80's I had a '78 XS that took me from Florida to New Mexico multiple times (as well as a Norton). Carried nothing but the factory tool kit under the seat and as I recall, a chain adjustment was all I ever had to do. Just as reliable as sunrise. The '80 I have now gives me the same feeling of just jump on it and go. These ol' bones of mine aren't up to those of my youth, but I've no doubt my bike could make the trip today if I asked her to. The muffler rattle might drive me up the wall though....A practical classic? Maybe.
I used to do that too. Sounds like a habit I'll pick up again.I try to remember to put an oz. or two of MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) in my tank at every fill up.